UNBC - Canada's Green University

Using the living laboratory

in Northern BC

Northern BC is the perfect living laboratory to study the environment, natural resources, and resource-based communities. In the knowledge-based economy and an era of climate change and the mountain pine beetle epidemic, applying R&D to the resource sector is key to their sustainability.

Successes

	Dr. Art Fredeen is exploring the link between the pine beetle and climate change. Long considered a beneficiary of global warming, the beetle may now be contributing to rising levels of greenhouse gases. Read more here.
	Laurie Chan, the BC Leadership Chair in Aboriginal Environmental Health, is at the forefront of understanding how environmental contaminants affect human health. Read more here.
	Canada Research Chair Stephen Déry is exploring how climate change at high altitudes is affecting snow accumulation and access to fresh water. Read more here.
	Dr. Annie Booth is leading local research exploring environmentally sustainable landscape options that don't require excessive watering or fertilizer. Read more here.
	Environmental Engineering professor Steve Helle is exploring efficient ways of making ethanol from pine beetle-infected trees.
	Physics prof and UNBC graduate Dr. Matt Reid is leading a new wave of technology helping local industry to better utilize harvested wood. Read more here.
	UNBC grad student Sorin Pasca has invented concrete comprised of mountain pine beetle killed wood and cement. Click to read more.
	Natural Resources and Environmental Studies student Dave Radies recently discovered an ancient forest thousands of kilometres inland. Click for Youtube video.
	UNBC Geography professor Brian Menounos and Doctoral student Matt Beedle are researching the effects of global warming on BC's 17,000 glaciers. Read more here.
	UNBC student Gareth Hopkins has conducted award-winning research into ways to protect young trees from the warren root collar weevil. Read more here.
	Six UNBC projects have attracted more than $1.3 million in funding to respond to and help deal with the Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic. Read More here.

Did You Know?

UNBC is a leader in Canada for the proportion of its research activity focused on the environment.

11 of our 13 Research Chairs are involved in environmental research, the largest number of any small university in Canada.

Gareth Hopkins and the Warren Root Collar Weevil.

Matt Beedle (left) and Brian Menounos take a reading from Castle Creek Glacier in BC.

Green Stories

Let us know about courses, research, student activities, and campus improvements that are helping to make UNBC more green. Email communications@unbc.ca.